Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-06
A THEATER FIRE.
One Hundred Persons I'M
mOlated in England.
ONLY ONE GALLERY EXIT.
The Unfortunate Victims Wedged
Together and Slowly Roasted
to Death.

Associated Press Dispatches to the Herald.
LONDON, September 5.-A theatel
at Exeter took fire this morning dur
ing the performance of "RomaIly
Rye" The occupants OF the pit,
after an awful struggle escaped but
many of them are greatly injured.
There was only one exit from the
gallery, and the crush there was ter
rife. Scores were trodden under foot
and suffocated. The fire escape was
brought to the window and many in
side were rescued. Sixty corpses
have been removed. The mortality is
estimated at one hundred.
ORIGIN OF THE CONFEDERATION.
There are various reports as to the
origin of the fire. 1t is only certain
that the flames broke out in the
scenery shifters department. Those
who escaped say that the special exit
was properly opened. The fire brigade
arrived a few minutes after the break
ing out of the flames but the efforts of
firemen were without avail. There
were several thrilling scenes.
A WEIRD SPECTACLE.
The fire blazed fiercely, lighting the
whole city, and people were soon
hocking to the scene in thousands in
quiring for their friends. The scene
inside the theatre when the fire broke
out was an awful one.
PANIC-sTRICKEN.
Some men implored the audience
to be calm, but it was impossible to
check the frantic mob. The theatre
hose was brought into use in a few
minutes, but had little effect on the
flames. The actors and actresses were
taken from windows with the aid of
ladders. They lost everything except
what they wore at the time.
SIXTY coRPsEs RECOVERED.
Up to the present time 60 bodies
have been recovered; they are almost
unrecognizable. Thirty injured sur
vivors have been taken to the hospital. i.
The fire burned throughout the night
and the search for bodies proceeds
slowly. In many cases every shred OF
clothing is burned off and the bodie
look black and raw.
THIRTY ARE WOMEN.
The majority OF the victims were
men and boys, and about thirty women
were burned. When the fire started
the drop scene was lowered to prevent
draughts, but some OF the actors
opened the door to escape, causing the
fire to burst through the drop scene
and to ignite the gallery.
ROASTED TO DEATH.
The flames overlook the people, who
were wedged in an immovable mass,
and roasted them to death. Many
who were rescued alive died soon after
they were brought out OF the burning
building. The occupants of the dress
circle escaped without serious harm.
HEARTHS MADE DEsoLATE.
A telegram from Exter, at O'Clock
this morning, says that the fire is un-
der control. People distracted with
anxiety are standing about the streets
in the neighborhood of the theater in
search of friends who attended last
nights performance, and the hospitals
are besieged by anxious inquirers for
friends. Twenty badly burned per-
sons who were admitted to the hos
pital died few minutes after they
were received.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT
The structure burned was the Thea
tre Royal, and was built after the
latest designs, and was elaborately
finished, being considered one of the
prettiest in the Kingdom. There was
a full house tonight, and everything
was all right until the end of the third
act, at 10 80, when the drop scene fell,
and in moment the whole stage was
MASS OF FIRE.
A wild panic ensued. The occupants
of the stalls, pit and dress circle
escaped, after dreadful crushing,
many being badly bruised.
THE ACTORS ALL SAFE.
The actors and actresses were in
their dressing rooms when the fire be-
gan and all escaped. The fire origin
ated in the flies and spread rapidly,
filling the theater with dense smoke.
The occupants of the upper circle and
galleries rushed to the windows
SCREAMING FRANTICALLY.
Many jumped from the windows and
were injured and others were rescued
with the aid Of ladders from the
verandahs.
ENGLISH EDITORIALS.